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Post Office The Chanhassen post office has outgrown its current quarters, and there is little potential for expansion on the site. Because it serves a substantial portion of the community, it requires an accessible location. If located in downtown, the post office will serve to support, and be supported by, retail, government and other downtown activities. Activity Center Focus groups frequently pointed to the need for a commu- nity gathering and activity place in, or near, downtown. A center for recreation and related activities, located near the western edge of downtown may answer this need. Not only would it create an anchor for the downtown, but an activity center at this location would complement the limited recreation facilities being built at the new elemen- tary school. Facilities included in an activity center are still open for discussion because today's preferences may not meet community needs five years hence. Pocket Parks Situated at the junctions of pedestrian paths, all public buildings and significant private developments are small public rooms known as pocket parks. They provide a green respite from the street and an opportunity to recall the larger landscape and build on the environment of Chanhassen. They may showcase sculpture or other artifacts that reflect the culture and heritage of the commu- nity. As informal gathering places, they serve as quiet areas for meeting friends, having lunch or simply resting between destinations. Placed within a five-minute walk of one another, they set a rhythm of public spaces throughout the downtown. Entertainment The dinner theater is the cornerstone of a proposed entertainment center which will mix uses to include theaters, restaurants, stores, recreational facilities, hotels and related uses. These offerings will be concentrated, allowing visitors to park once in a common parking area and shop twice as they move to the various destinations on foot. Its emphasis on nighttime activities will extend the downtown's daytime vitality into the evening hours. , Transit The railroad corridor has the potential to become a major hub for all anticipated future transit services. The line could serve as a light rail route which would eventually connect the City of Chanhassen with downtown Minneapolis. It could also serve as the interchange for all local and regional transit services, including park-and-ride lots, local circulator bus service and pedestrian traffic. Therefore, a central location is desirable-allowing users to park in a convenient downtown location while shopping or doing business. Pedestrian pathways, which connect the transit hub to other downtown destinations, will be critical to the success of commercial, retail and entertainment establishments designed to serve the needs of transit patrons. Historic Area The city's most important historic buildings are located adjacent to old St. Hubert's Church and the Village Hall. The Pony/Pauly/Przymus buildings are currently owned by the Chanhassen Housing and Redevelopment Authority and are slated for demolition because they are structurally and functionally substandard. Following the removal of these buildings, there will be an opportunity for new development to frame the western edge of Heritage Square Park. New development in this historic area needs to be consistent in design and scale with the buildings that already grace Heri- tage Square Park. Any redevelopment requires an historically sensitive design that can build on the community's culture and become part of the city's heritage. o l1li The Basic Shapes of Downtown: Design Concepts - Form a compact center by creating a series of rooms throughout the downtown. -Complete pedestrian connections that lead to and through the downtown. -Create a distinct downtown district through architectural forms and the shape of vegetation. - Reinforce the sense of the street as a room by reflecting the setback of existing buildings in new development. Oo.t:=JD CJ 00 DC - Locate buildings close to the street, with parking behind or beside the buildings. Street r--.~\ I B ilding I '=, I Parking L -. l..___ -.J -Create a strong relationship between buildings, pedestrian spaces and the street. Street Peck;tri~; - - - - - - -~\ ----- - 1 \ I , 1 I I I I I I I -Offer pedestrians safety and convenience by providing entries from both streets and parking areas. - Select building practices and architectural elements to reinforce the historic character of West 78th Street. Existing Development Potential Development 200 Feet I. I I 5 Minute Walk Nor~